Colorado Trip - Denver

 (sculpture downtown Denver)

This past summer we took a family trip to Denver, Colorado. My husband is a pretty avid cyclist, and had decided he really wanted to bike to the top of Mount Evans. It is known for having the highest paved road in North America, and he wanted to take on the challenge. The more we talked about it, the more we realized it would be great to turn it into a family vacation so he would have us there for support.

We left on Sunday, June 3rd and began the 12 hour drive to Denver. Mike and I took turns driving until we were about twenty miles outside of Colby, Kansas where we dropped him off so he could bike the rest of the way into town. The kids and I drove to the hotel to check in and find some dinner for when he arrived.

The next day we drove the final four hours or so to Denver, where we were able to drop our luggage off at our Airbnb. It was a little early to completely check in, so we went to find lunch and see downtown. We had pizza at a little restaurant called Pronto, and then drove over to the capitol building.

We walked around inside for a bit and checked out the Senate and House of Representative rooms, but they were not in session. At that point we left the building and walked through Civic Center Park

(taking a break)

By this time we were all pretty hot and tired (Erin pretending to be passed out lol), so we decided to return to our Airbnb and officially check in.

Loved the house we picked out!

It was in a great location know as LoHi right by downtown. We decided to splurge a little on a three bedroom home with two baths so each of our kids could have their own room.

Living and Dining room area

Kitchen (refrigerator was right to the left) The owners even stocked it with some snacks and drinks.

Master bedroom with a huge walk in closet on the opposite wall and a door leading out to a deck with a view of downtown.

Upstairs bathroom

Erin was super happy with her bedroom and...

that it had it's own little writing desk where she could put her laptop. We also loved that it had a Frisco, Colorado print hanging above it which was going to be our next destination after Denver. But more on that to come later!

This was the downstairs bedroom off the kitchen where my son, who is a teenager, stayed. It had a door that led to the garage, and definitely gave him some privacy.

This house was such a good choice for our stay in Denver.

After resting for a little bit, we headed for dinner at the Ale House which was within walking distance of our house. It had pretty good food, and a great upstairs patio.

We decided to walk down to the river after dinner for a little bit before heading to Little Man Ice Cream.

It's a pretty popular ice cream place I had found on line knowing how much my husband and daughter love ice cream! The line was so long it was a 45 minute wait, but my family said it was worth it. We went back the next day in the afternoon and the line was quite a bit shorter. Evenings in the summer are typically pretty busy though.

And that was our first day in Denver. Up next Red Rocks Amphitheater!

Different Directions

My blog has not been something I post to regularly the past three or four years. I was on a roll again for awhile blogging a few times a month and then I decided to take this past summer off. Summers tend to be pretty busy for us and we did a lot of traveling this year as well.

I used to be an avid "blogger". I loved to read them and had quite a few I followed. I belonged to a fun community of women who supported each other and our blogs. And while writing posts can be a lot of work at times, I am so glad I have shared so many. I think the posts about our trips are my favorite. When I go back and read those posts, it's almost like reliving them a little bit all over again. They totally make blogging worth it for me!

I have had several discussions with friends about blogs lately. And the debate about whether or not people even read blogs anymore or whether they are worth it, is always happening in facebook groups and on the few message boards I participate in these days. With Instagram and Facebook being so quick and easy, many people have moved there to record their memories and share photos. And while I love to post on Instagram, I don't feel you can tell as much of the story there as you can on a blog!

I have had some friends and family tell me "oh I saw that on your blog", so I know someone is reading what I write here! But truthfully it's ok if only a few people see my posts, because I've never been one to seek a lot of attention through my blog writing.
Although if I recall correctly, I mainly started blogging for scrapbook design team purposes. It did bring in a larger audience at the time, but I left that world behind several years ago. My blog is for me these days, even if it just evolves into a place to write about our travels.

Because this is so me! I know I caught the travel bug last year in Europe. I used to laugh at that expression, but now I really think it's true. Some days it's all I can think about - where can we go next? It doesn't matter how big or small. Even adventures that just take us away for a day or two are fine with me.

If you are still reading my blog though, or even stumbled across this post accidentally, don't be shy and say Hi! And if you are still keeping up a blog, let me know and I will come by and return the favor. :) The blog community may not be as big or as popular as it once was, but there are still a few of us old timers here keeping it alive. And you never know, blogging may come back into fashion again, kind of like vinyl records. For those of us who listened to vinyl growing up, we've learned to never say never (lol).

Netflix Binging

Time for another "what I'm watching on Netflix" post!

I am all caught up on most of the shows I have been watching and mentioned in the past. (Supernatural, The Good Place, Riverdale and Stranger Things) So I decided to give a few other shows I've had in my watchlist a chance.

1. Once Upon a Time
I am completely addicted to this show! In fact, I blew through the first season in less then two weeks. I can't believe it has taken me this long to discover it! It is such a clever twist on fairy tales especially with the way they have brought them into modern times. Hopefully the rest of the seasons are as good as the first season. So far so good on the second season!

2. Haven
Being a Stephen King fan, especially of his earlier work, I decided to give this show a chance. It's loosely (very loosely) based on one of his novels called The Colorado Kid. In fact, it really doesn't have a lot to do with it. But there are a few fun references to some of his other work, which I like.

I wasn't too sure about this show at first. It kind of comes across as one of those cheesy made for tv movie series that doesn't always have the best special effects. It is growing on me though, mainly due to the mystery aspect. Every time I think I have things figured out, another twist is revealed. And I am really starting to like Audrey and Nathan, but the jury is still out on Duke. Something about him just bothers me.

3. Sabrina
Ok, not 100% sure I am going to stick with this show, but thought I'd give it more of a chance since I'm only one episode in. It's kind of a mix of Supernatural meets Riverdale. And as I look at the photo posted and see at the top "from the Executive Producers of Riverdale" I can see why (lol). This is another one of those CW teen type shows that I didn't think I would ever watch. But after finishing two seasons of Riverdale and being able to look past some of the unrealistic annoyances, I may be able to do that with this show. Time will tell. The only thing I'm kind of uncomfortable with is they pretty much associate witchcraft with satanism, and I'm pretty sure that is not the case.

4. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
I've always kind of loved Jerry Seinfeld. He definitely has a carefree attitude that I sometimes wish I could emulate. I like this show because it is a unique concept. But it's kind of hit or miss for me depending on the comedian he has on that episode. And frankly, some of the shows fall flat because Jerry and his guest don't have good rapport. It's still a fun watch for me though.

5. Norm Macdonald Has a Show
Another favorite comedian of mine has his own show on Netflix. I thought it was pretty funny in a typical Norm style. Definitely not for children! Most of his guests were great and I learned some interesting facts about a lot of them! I flew through Season One without even realizing it in less than a week. I guess I can actually add this show to my "all caught up list" because it's only one season so far. But since it's new, I thought I would mention it here.

For the record, I must add that I am not a lay around Netflix binger. I mostly watch these shows while I am cooking dinner, cleaning up the kitchen, folding laundry or working out on one of the cardio machines at the YMCA. If it's a quiet day at home, I might watch an episode in the afternoon before school pick ups. But otherwise I like to stay a little active during my TV time.

So between Once Upon a Time, Haven and Sabrina, I have plenty of episodes to keep me busy for a while. Now my husband and I just need to find another good show to watch together. We just finished Sense8, but are having a hard time settling on the next one. Any suggestions? :)

21st Wedding Anniversary!

Wow! It's been a while since I posted! It's also kind of hard to believe our wedding day was 21 years ago, lol. There are times when it really does feel as if I can't remember the time before I met Mike. We've actually known each other for over 27 years.

One of the biggest questions I get asked pretty frequently now that we have hit the 20 year mark of marriage, is how do you do it? It seems as if so many marriages are ending in divorce, how do you stay together?

Well...I feel at this point I could almost write a book on the subject. Of course I won't do that here. :)
I will say though that I feel there are a few big reasons why our marriage works.

1. We went into our marriage not even considering divorce as an option. From day one we promised that we would never just give up. Now I know that can be easier said than done if I'm going to be honest. I mean I guess no one really marries thinking that divorce will be in their future. In fact, when a marriage is just beginning, everything is exciting and new. There is no way to know what life is going to throw at you though. Just no way. Both of us have grown and changed in different ways over the years, but I think we've tried to stay connected through it all. I will admit we have definitely had some tough times which I believe all marriages endure. Sometimes the connection just wasn't there between us. But ultimately in the backs of our minds, I think there has always been that promise that no matter how tough it is, we can work it out.

Even though we have weathered a few big storms together, I am just grateful we love each other enough to realize that what we have endured has never been so bad it justified being apart for good.

2. Good communication is very important! It is so easy to assume your spouse means something completely different then his or her intention. If you are not careful, this has the potential to create all types of problems. These days, I am more willing to ask questions and clear the air if there is a problem or misunderstanding. I think it's better to just ask "what's up" or share how I'm feeling rather than keep it inside. We made a promise a few years back that we would be completely honest and say how we feel in a kind way no matter what, and I think it makes a huge difference. It may not always be easy, but honesty is such a big component of trust. And trust is key in a marriage.

3. There is a difference between real love and infatuation (or "falling in love") That feeling of infatuation or attraction is what draws people together and gets the ball rolling. But I believe real love is so much more than that. When you really love someone, you want the best for them. When you really love someone, it's all about loving in the good times and not so good times. It's so easy to be attracted to someone when things are on the surface and you are just learning about each other and on your best behavior. But to me real love is accepting someone for all their amazing qualities as well as their flaws. I do believe marriages can be very romantic and you can still have that "butterflies in your stomach" feeling for your spouse. I know I still get them :). But life is not always going to be easy. I think a true test of love is how well you work together when it's not so romantic.

4. If you have kids, it's ok to have date nights and go on trips without them! We love spending time with our kids, but one of the absolute best lessons we have taken to heart is that it is ok to have time together just the two of us. My husband's work and travel schedule is crazy. In fact, it can downright suck sometimes. So we know how important it is to find time to connect. We like to go out to dinner at least once a month just the two of us. When he is in town during a weekday, we try to have lunch or movie dates. In addition, I just can't tell you enough how great we are together when it's the two of us traveling. Eleven days in Europe nonstop last summer, made me realize how much I just really still enjoy hanging out with my husband! I know we are better parents for it, too.

5. The marriage wall is crucial. We both have friends and acquaintances of the opposite sex, and I think that is just fine as long as they are "friends" of our marriage. I also believe it is important to keep up what I have always called the marriage wall. It's the place that only the two of us share and nobody else is getting in! We are extra careful to keep other relationships outside of our own to people we can trust to be respectful of our marriage.

6. To be married, a sense of humor helps! I love being with someone who makes me laugh and that I hope I make laugh, too. I know I've mentioned in the past that I have struggled a bit with depression and anxiety. It's not always easy for either of us. But I remember having a really off day once and my husband, knowing my love of the tv show Supernatural and who is not threatened by my non-romantic love of Dean, sent me a few gifs to cheer me up...

You have to love it when your husband can make you smile on a particularly bad day. We have had a lot of good times over the years, and it helps to know I have him to turn to when I'm having a not so great day.

7. We are a team. I really do try to think of us as a team, and that we are in this marriage together. We are not always going to agree on everything. But ultimately this is where communication becomes important again. We do our best when we can talk to each other face to face, and really listen to each other. And don't get me started on how important it is to present a united front to your children. 100% true!

 (Yes, we love to dress up in costumes for Halloween together!)

8. We have things we love in common. It is totally ok to have different interests, hobbies, friends  and even personalities. I think it's good for a marriage to kind of have your own thing. But it really helps to find areas where you can connect. We both love listening to music and going to concerts. We love watching favorite tv shows together. We both love traveling together to new places. These are some great ways we can connect and enjoy each others company. I think if we didn't have any common interests it would be a lot harder. Not impossible, but definitely harder.

I will say though I try to take interest in my husband's love of cycling. I ask him tons of questions, read up on it myself, and totally supported him when he biked up a mountain back in June (which needs to be a whole other post I hope!) Even though I'm not much of a cyclist myself, we did go on a bike ride together in Amsterdam because I knew it was something he would enjoy. I am so sloooooow. LOL But it was an experience I wouldn't have missed for anything in the world!

Wrap up - I know there are times when staying in a marriage is just not an option. Maybe there are safety issues or a multitude of other problems that could make it just too damn hard.
That's why I'm so grateful we haven't faced anything like that. I hope and pray we never do.
But for now, we are living our life the best we know how together. Which makes me super grateful for where we are now and the past 21 years!

Would love to hear any tips you have for a successful marriage! I am always willing to learn :)

U2 - St. Louis - May 4, 2018

Whenever U2 comes to town, we always try to get General Admission tickets. The only show we did not have them for was back in 1997 right after my husband and I were married, when the band was here on their POP tour. But they didn't even have GA for that show, and it was just reserved seats on the floor.

After they had to cancel the Joshua Tree show scheduled here last September, I was sure that was it for U2 coming back to St. Louis for awhile if ever. But surprisingly we found out that St. Louis was going to be the second stop on their new tour. We were so happy to get another chance to see them here!

The morning of the concert (May 4, 2018), my husband, son and I arrived down at the venue around 4:30 am to get our General Admission line numbers. We were still pretty high up at 194-196 considering how early we made it down there. It was the earliest we had ever arrived for GA and the highest for numbers ironically. They told us to go home and come back at 7am when they would line us up again for new numbers. If you weren't back at that time you lost your spot and those behind you could move up.

When we came back we were given new numbers and made it to 163-165 for the three of us. Still pretty good though because the stage set up had plenty of room to be close to a rail. Once again they told us we could go home but had to be back by 2pm to get our bracelets. So thankfully we didn't have to hang out in line all day as we've had to in the past. We actually had a few much needed opportunities to go home and rest.

After 2pm we decided to just stay in line and were finally let in sometime between 5:30 and 6pm. We started to go for one of the open side rails next to the long catwalk part of the stage...

but at the last minute we decided to risk it and headed toward the main stage area by where the Edge usually stands. Luckily, there were spots!

And then the hardest part of all. Waiting for them to come onstage. It always seems to take forever!

There is nothing to really describe the feeling when they finally arrive and you realize that they are standing right there in front of you :)
They played The Blackout on the catwalk, but then they came back to the main stage for the next eight songs (Lights of Home, Beautiful Day, I Will Follow, New Year's Day, All Because of You, The Ocean, Iris, and Cedarwood Road) with Bono moving down the catwalk and back for part of Beautiful Day and I think Cedarwood Road.
Sunday Bloody Sunday had the whole band back on the catwalk. And then Adam and Larry returned to the main stage while Edge and Bono stayed on the Catwalk for Until the End of the World. Always a favorite for us.

They had a really cool (to me) Intermission with a cartoon type story on the screen that played along to a recording of Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me from the Batman soundtrack.

After the Intermission, they went down to the little round stage on the opposite end of the catwalk for Elevation, Vertigo, Desire, and Acrobat (which was a song Mike and I, as well as a ton of other U2 fans, have been wanting to hear live for years!) Next they played a stripped down version of You're the Best Thing About Me, and I really hope they record and release it because I loved it!
Edge and Bono stayed down that way doing an acoustic version of Staring at the Sun while Larry and Adam once again came back towards the main stage for a little break.
Then we had Pride, Get Out of Your Own Way, American Soul, and City of Blinding Lights with the whole band back at the main stage.

For their encore we heard One, Love is Bigger Than Anything in it's Way, and 13 (There is a Light). I'll speak more about the what Bono said before they played One in a little bit. But I just have to say, that Love is Bigger was one of my favorites of the night. Bono was on our side a lot during that song and really connecting with the crowd there. And 13 (There is a Light) was the perfect end for me.

It was an amazing show in so many ways, but not without it's flaws. I didn't expect perfection, because it was only the second stop on a new tour for them. There were lyric slip ups (Bono during Acrobat). And Bono even said something like "let's try that again" during one song (I can't remember which one now) that had a little bit of a rough start. There was some sound distortion and a few technical issues at times. But I don't mind that type of stuff. It makes them more human to me :) And really the first few shows of a new tour never go smoothly. That's why we usually wait till later in the tours to go, but there was no way we were going to miss St. Louis.

I could also see though how much more concentration and focus Edge and Adam seemed to need when a show is newer as opposed to how more relaxed and engaging and in tune with the audience they become as a tour progresses and it all becomes second nature.

He had his eyes closed a lot during the concert this time around.

This was 2011 here in St. Louis, but on the third leg of the tour when they had already been in North America once. Then over in Europe, South America and Mexico for the second leg of the tour and back here to North America. So lots of practice. And he was definitely all smiles with eyes wide open a lot back then. But I am NOT complaining. I love being that close to them and watching them play no matter when the concert is taking place!

 And he really does have a lot of guitars. A new one came out for practically every song!

When it comes down to it, I thought it was a great show (mistakes and all). A lot of people were disappointed that they didn't play any songs from the Joshua Tree album. And I totally get why they felt that way. It's the album that put U2 on the map over here and many people have a huge connection to the band through it. But they just finished a whole tour dedicated to the Joshua Tree! And while St. Louis technically lost out seeing it when the show was cancelled, this is a completely different tour and I'm just glad they came back here. Bono definitely mentioned it more than once that they were happy to return and apologized for the wait.

As for politics, Bono definitely had a lot to say. And the message is one I get behind 100%. I neither consider myself Republican or Democrat, but more Independent in my political views. Somewhere right down the middle. Before they played "One", Bono spoke out:

"You can only solve these problems if you reach out to the people who you don't normally want to sit across from. So, forget the White House, left and right. Working together: That's what we learned in the One Campaign. We can work together, whatever it is: budgets, gun violence health care - it won't be solved by half the country that's for sure. And you can disagree on almost everything if the one thing you agree on is important enough. Choose what that is."

This. I'm so tired of left and right and so little compromise or meeting in the middle. People can complain what does it matter to Bono, he doesn't even live here. But it does matter. He has always professed a love for America and the idea of America. That is why Joshua Tree was even made. And right now America is a mess. And it doesn't just affect us, but other countries as well. Anyway, I'll leave it alone for now, but it was a very meaningful moment for me as someone who is just frustrated about how hurtful and selfish so many seem these days. Especially those in power.

I'll leave you with a photo of Adam Clayton because I think he is just about the coolest bass player ever!

And Larry who I have a new appreciation for now that my son plays the drums. The look on Evan's face as he watched Larry play was priceless. So he had me watching and all I could think was so amazing. To think where they came from to where they are now.

Would really love to be able to see them again on this tour - when it's a little more polished and they are a little more relaxed. Not sure it will happen since there aren't many shows left over here, but I've learned to never say never when it comes to U2. I think the next time though we would probably sit in regular seats just to take in everything. I know there is quite a bit we missed when they played at the other end, and that big screen just does not have the same effect when you are so close.

I have to say, their show here back in 2011 for the 360 tour still remains my favorite one ever. As much as I appreciated this concert for what it was, and I will never, ever take for granted any opportunity to see my favorite band up close, it's hard to top that 2011 one for me. Although I think the original Joshua Tree tour that came here is a close second along with when we saw them in Dublin, Ireland in 2009! :)

Have you ever seen U2 live? (Julie, I know you have lucky girl! lol)
What is your favorite all time concert?

What's On TV

We recently decided to cancel our cable tv because we realized we weren't really watching it very much. I do still like shows such as The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance. And my husband and I would often watch HGTV shows together when he was home. But it seemed as if the tv shows and movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV were taking over.

In January of 2016, my son talked me into watching

I remember thinking the first episode was kind of cheesy. But then the more I watched it, the more addicted I became! I finally finished watching all 12 seasons that were on Netflix in August of 2017, because my son and I were hoping to actually watch Season 13 together in real time. But this was around the time we cancelled cable and trying to watch it on the CW app was just too painful. You can't skip the commercials and had to watch the episodes within a certain time frame or they expired. So we decided to just wait and watch the new season when it comes on Netflix hopefully in May or June.

After I finished Season 12 of SPN, I was looking for a new show to watch.

And I discovered Kimmy on Netflix. Oh how I love Kimmy! Such a funny show and the characters are all so over the top, but I think they are hilarious. I am not so patiently hoping and waiting for a Season 4 to come out soon.

So while waiting for Season 4 of Kimmy Schmidt, I stumbled across...

also on Netflix. I started watching by myself, but then got my husband hooked on it too! We are always quoting certain parts from it. (what the fork!) And I think Ted Danson and Kristen Bell are simply perfect. This is another show we are not so patiently waiting for the next season to finally be added to Netflix.

Then Mike talked me into watching...

on Amazon Prime. He saw the first two seasons on his own and liked it so much he re watched them with me, so we could watch season three together. It is a little (well the best word I can think of is) raunchy at times, but that doesn't really bother us. It could be a little much for some people though. All I know is that we laughed a lot in some parts and it became another show we quote from quite a bit. Season three ended in a definite cliffhanger, so we are pretty sure there will be another one. Keeping our fingers crossed!

The next one he convinced me to watch was...

and it's another Netflix show that's a little out there. It started off one way, and I remember asking him do I really want to watch this? But then it did kind of a 180 and I became hooked and really liked the kids. It wasn't what I expected at all. Not for the faint of heart though.

One of our absolute favorite shows on Netflix that we watched together was...

which I know is pretty popular. We binge watched this together in a weekend when the second season came out close to Halloween. The only problem at first was that my husband leaves to go out of town on Sunday nights, and we ran out of time when we only had 30 minutes left in the last episode! Crazy bad planning on our part. But we got creative and when he arrived at his destination, we watched it together as we used FaceTime on our iphones! So we did get to finish it together after all.

I decided after all these other shows, I needed a new one to binge watch on my own while we wait for new seasons to come out.
And I am embarrassed to admit, after saying I never ever would, I started watching...

Yes, I did. The entire first season that is available on Netflix. It is so over the top dramatic and unrealistic in a typical CW "teen" type show. Although I have to say, I don't know very many teens who act and dress the way these characters do. Definitely not your typical Archie comic story lines. But I of course got hooked on the mystery in season one, and had to finish it out. I think Jughead is about the only character I actually like, and was totally surprised to find out he played Adam Sandler's son in Big Daddy, and one of the twins on that Disney show "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody". Anyway, I may give season two a chance, just to see where it goes.

And now I am looking for a new show. One for myself and one for the husband and I to watch together.
I tried Mad Men - and while I like the style and design of that era, it makes me glad I don't exist as a woman in that place and time. I don't think I will be keeping that one on my list.

Shows I am considering are: (and facebook friends please give me your opinion in my post over there!)

Parenthood
Under the Dome
24
Sherlock
The Royals
Santa Clarita Diet
Mindhunter
Gotham
Hemlock Grove
and
Van Helsing

So what do you think?